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More rhinos in Tanzania

Reports to the effect that the number of rhinos is rising in Ngorongoro is good news for two reasons. First, efforts to protect endangered species are evidently paying off.

Second, we have living proof that the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority is determined to protect Tanzania’s treasured wildlife.

The rhino count now stands at 45 and, if all goes well, there should be 50 of them by 2015.

The demand for ivory has exposed African rhinos and elephants to great risk. During the 1970’s and 1980s, the number of elephants and rhinos dropped drastically due to poaching.

The trend has been reversed in the past decade, resulting in an increase in the number of these valuable animals. It is not difficult to spot them these days, and this has boosted tourist numbers in our game reserves and national parks.

Tanzania earned about Sh1.901 trillion from tourism related activities in 2010. The projections for the last year were $1.7 billion. In 2010, the country earned a handsome $1.2 billion from 700,000-plus tourists, many of them from the big tourism sources.

But this is no time to rest on our laurels. Tourism is one of the key sectors that drive our economy. The relevant authorities, including Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa), should double their efforts to curb poaching and protect endangered species.So should the rest of the population, which stands to benefit from any gains in tourism.

The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) of the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort, received a R100 000 boost from the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SAHGCA) to help fund the upkeep of its Rhino DNA Index System (RhODIS): here.

March 2012. The South African Department of Environmental Affairs is concerned about the ongoing scourge of rhino poaching. To date, a total of 135 rhinos have been killed for the illegal trade in rhino horn: here.

This week, a disturbing development emerged in India, and South Africa is beefing up security for its imperiled rhinos. Rhino killing attempt thwarted at zoo In India, a suspect identified as Chin Khansong was arrested for attempting to kill rhinos at the Assam State Zoo, where nine greater on…

Countdown to rhino extinction?

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Check out this brilliant animated infographic about one of the world’s worst wildlife crimes: rhino poaching. Wildlife conservatio…

By one estimate, a rhino is killed every 18 hours in South Africa. If you find this fact startling, you’re not alone.

On a recent trip to South Africa, CI’s own Kim McCabe saw the aftereffects of this awful poaching. But she also saw a rhino, recovered from poaching injuries, going back into the wild.

As Kim writes on our blog, “Like all wildlife, the rhino is part of the complex web of life that makes our planet so special — and like every unique species, helps to balance the ecosystems we rely on for food, water, fresh air, arable soil and many other ecosystem services.”

Visit CI’s blog to watch Kim’s video of the rhino going back into the wild — and to get an inside look at her visit to a South African game reserve.